Sinusitis decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, and thus grants service connection for headaches secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including left shoulder pain, right shoulder pain, low back pain, left foot pain, chronic sinusitis, hallux rigidus (bilateral), head injury, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD. The decision was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent effective April 29, 2015. The rating for allergic rhinitis remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims for arthritis, bilateral lower extremities and upper extremities, lymphatic system disability, and chronic sinusitis have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.,Service records do not show any diagnosis or treatment for these conditions. The Veteran reported joint pain but did not present with a diagnosed condition.

The Board denied service connection for right knee patellofemoral syndrome, allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinusitis), and sleep apnea.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's residuals of fracture of the left index finger.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an allergic skin disorder, including urticaria and angioedema, is granted. The claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for left hip condition, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability is granted. The appeal is remanded for further development.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied due to lack of current disability documentation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for acid reflux, sleep apnea, sinusitis and allergies, and bilateral foot disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The claims are being returned for further examination and opinion.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims for cervical spine, left shoulder, lumbar spine, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities were all denied. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis was also denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of obesity secondary to service-connected hypertension was granted.

The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, GERD, memory loss (claimed as dementia), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, hair loss, hypertension, bladder disability, and gout are all remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is considered to have been incurred in service, and his right ear hearing loss had its onset during active duty. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.,There is no current evidence of a gastrointestinal disability or irritable bowel syndrome that can be linked to service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions, including hemorrhoids and a left little toe callus. The claims were also dismissed due to her withdrawal of other issues.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches, including sinus headaches secondary to his service-connected sinusitis, is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of chronic sinusitis and increased evaluation for hypothyroidism residuals, finding that the earliest dates of claim were May 8, 2013.

The Veteran's appeals seeking service connection for a left great toe disability and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis are dismissed. Service connection is granted for sinusitis, but denied for bronchitis. A 10 percent rating is granted for restless leg syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for dry eye syndrome and remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of laser surgery of the left eye and sinusitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for muscle/joint pain (fibromyalgia) has been granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disorder, respiratory disorder (allergic rhinitis), and neurological disorder (dizziness) are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including sinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis, is denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions during or approximate to the pendency of the claim. Service connection for migraine headaches is remanded as there is evidence of in-service migraine headaches and post-service evidence of migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis due to exposure to toxic chemicals, as new evidence was submitted that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The case is now pending further development.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for psychiatric disability, PTSD, sleep disturbance, headaches and high blood pressure due to the Veteran's service.